CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE: IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY PLACEMENT

STAR RATING: 4/5 STARS.

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE:
IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY PLACEMENT

Edited by Rena Philips

BAAF Adoption and Fostering

ISBN 1903699274, £14.95

Research reveals that although child care social workers
frequently encounter families with drug and alcohol problems, it is
an area in which they lack skills, knowledge and confidence. This
multi-disciplinary book admirably fills that gap presenting new
research but focusing on the experience of the children, writes
Clea Barry.

A key theme is the negative impact of maternal drug use on
pre-natal brain development. After birth this is compounded by the
chaotic, impoverished environment that can accompany substance
misuse. The result is children whose difficulties with
concentration, language, memory, relationships and behaviour make
them hard to parent at home or in placement.
While the more technical chapters suffer somewhat from trying to
pack a lot of information into a short space, the first person
accounts from children, parents and social workers are particularly
moving and useful. Recommended.

Clea Barry is a child protection worker.